#1 Songs in America
(October 17th)
1980 - "Another One Bites the Dust"
Queen
10/4 - 10/24
1981 - "Arthur's Theme"
Christopher Cross
10/17 - 11/6
1982 - "Jack & Diane
John Cougar Mellencamp
10/2 - 10/29
1983 - "Total Eclipse of the Heart"
Bonnie Tyler
10/1 - 10/28
1984 - "I Just Called to Say I Love You"
Stevie Wonder
10/13 - 11/2
1985 - "Oh Sheila"
Ready for the World
10/12 - 10/18
1986 - "When I Think of You"
Janet Jackson
10/11 - 10/24
1987 - "Lost in Emotion"
Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam
10/17 - 10/23
1988 - "Red Red Wine"
UB40
10/15 - 10/21
1989 - "Miss You Much"
Janet Jackson
10/7 - 11/3
Click Here For More 80s Music Fun Facts and Awards
Headlines
(October 17th)
1981 - "Arthur's Theme" by Christopher Cross Became the #1 Song in America
#1 Song in America from October 17 - November 6
* Also Hit #1 in Canada and Norway
Theme Song for Arthur (1981)
October 17th in 80s History
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1987 - "Lost in Emotion" by Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam Became the #1 Song in America
#1 Song in America from October 17 - 23
A 6.9 Earthquake Hit the San Francisco Bay Area
1989 - The 6.9 Loma Prieta Earthquake Struck the San Francisco Bay Area Live During the World Series
* 63 Killed and 3,757 Injured
Damage: $6 Billion
Did You Know?
Both Bay Area Teams Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants Were Playing the World Series
1986 - The Color of Money Premiered in Theaters
* Starring Paul Newman and Tom Cruise
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Tom Cruise
On October 17, 1983 Tom Cruise Appeared on NBC and Discussed the Impact of Risky Business
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Happy 80s Birthdays
1947 - Michael McKean (Actor) Laverne & Shirley
1948 - George Wendt (Actor) Cheers
1956 - Fran Cosmo (Singer)
1957 - Steve McMichael (Football)
1958 - Alan Jackson (Country Singer)
1968 - Ziggy Marley (Singer)
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Other Notable Birthdays
Rita Hayworth
October 17, 1918 - May 14, 1987
Passed Away at Age 68 from Complications of Alzheimer’s
Ralph Wilson
October 17, 1918 - March 25, 2014
Passed Away at Age 95 from Natural Causes
Founded the Buffalo Bills
Evel Knieval (Daredevil)
October 17, 1938 - November 30, 2007
Passed Away at Age 69 from Diabetes and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Margot Kidder
October 17, 1948 - May 13, 2018
Passed Away at Age 69 from a Suicide Overdose
Played Lois Lane in Superman
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Passed Away
(On This Day)
Ben Weider (Bodybuilding)
Passed Away on October 17, 2008 at Age 85 (Unknown Causes)
Co-Founded The International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness with Brother Joe
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80s Movies
(On This Day)
1986 - The Color of Money
Director: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Paul Newman, Tom Cruise, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Helen Shaver, John Turturro, Bill Cobbs and Forest Whitaker
Budget: $13.8 Million
Box Office: $52.3 Million
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80s Television
(On This Day)
1981 - George Kennedy Hosted Saturday Night Live
Musical Guest: Miles Davis
1983 - The Sally Jesse Raphael Show Premiered in Syndication
Seasons: 19
Episodes: 3,820
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80s Music
(Albums Released On This Day)
1980 - The River
Bruce Springsteen (5th Album)
Hit #1 on the US Billboard 200 Charts
* Also Hit #1 in Canada
1980 - Just Supposin'
Status Quo (13th Album)
Billboard Charts: #19
* #4 in the UK
1980 - Love Zombies
The Monochrome Set (2nd Album)
1980 - Making Movies
Dire Straits (3rd Album)
Billboard Charts: #19
1983 - Pipes of Peace
Paul McCartney (4th Solo Album)
Billboard Charts: #15
* Hit #1 in Norway
Featuring “Say Say Say”
1984 - Escape
Whodini (2nd Album)
Billboard Charts: #35
Featuring “Friends”
1985 - The Blasting Concept Vol. 2
Various Artists
1986 - Better Than Heaven
Stacy Q (Debut Album)
Billboard Charts: #59
Featuring “Two of Hearts”
1988 - Money For Nothing (Greatest Hits Album)
Dire Straits
Billboard Charts: #62
* Hit #1 in the UK, France and Switzerland
1988 - Rage
T’Pau (Debut Album)
* Reached #4 in the UK
1988 - Copperhead Road
Steve Earle (3rd Album)
Billboard Charts: #56
1988 - New Light Through Old Windows (Remix Album)
Chris Rea
Billboard Charts: #92
* #5 in the UK
1988 - Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1
Traveling Wilburys
Billboard Charts: #3
* Hit #1 in Canada
1989 - Selena
Selena (Debut Album)
* Reached #7 on the US Regional Mexican Charts
1989 - Storm Front
Billy Joel (11th Album)
Hit #1 on the US Billboard 200 Charts
* Featuring “We Didn’t Start the Fire”
1989 - Best of Dark Horse 1976–1989 (Compilation Album)
George Harrison
Billboard Charts: #132
1989 - Steady On
Shawn Colvin (Debut Album)
Billboard Charts: #111
1989 - Hot in the Shade
Kiss (15th Album)
Billboard Charts: #29
1989 - Controlled by Hatred/Feel Like Shit...Déjà Vu
Suicidal Tendencies (4th Album)
Billboard Charts: #150
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80s Sports
(On This Day)
1980 - Game 3 of the World Series
* The Kansas City Royals Beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4 - 3 (10 innings) at Royals Stadium to Take 2-1 Series Lead
Attendance: 42,380
Willie Aikens (Royals) Walk-Off Single
George Brett Hit a Home Run After Hemorrhoid Surgery the Night Before
1982 - Game 5 of the World Series
* The Milwaukee Brewers Beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-4 at County Stadium to Take a 3 - 2 Series Lead
Attendance: 56,562
Robin Yount (Brewers) Became the First Player to Get 4 Hits in 2 Different World Series Games
1983 - The Green Bay Packers Beat the Washington Redskins 48 - 47 at Lambeau Field
* Both teams Combined for 1,025 Yards
Redskins (552) Packers (473)
Spread
Redskins -3
O/U 52.0
1987 - The Minnesota Twins Beat the St. Louis Cardinals 10 - 1 at The Metrodome in Game 1 of the World Series
Attendance: 55,171
* Frank Viola 8 innings (1 ER)
Dan Gladden and Steve Lombardozzi (Twins) Hit 1st Inning Home Runs
First World Series Played in a Dome
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Other Notable Dates
(On October 17th)
1814 - The London Beer Floods
1860 - Willie Park, Sr. Defeated Tom Morris, Sr. by 2 Strokes to Win the First British Open
Location: Prestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland
Course: Prestwick Golf Clue
Fun Fact!
Harry Harden (6) Has Won the Most British Open Golf Tournaments (Now Called The Open Championship)
1896, 1898, 1899, 1903, 1911, 1914
1931 - Al Capone Was Convicted of Tax Fraud
* Sent to Alcatraz Prison
1933 - Albert Einstein Fled Germany and Headed to the United States
1979 - Mother Teresa Was Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
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